Wrestling with Writing: Instructional Strategies for Struggling Students

by Nicholas D. Young, Bryan Thors Noonan, Kristen Bonanno-Sotiropoulos

Overview

This book is designed to be a valuable resource for all educators who seek to gain a better understanding of writing development, effective writing teaching practices, and meeting the instructional needs of struggling writers. Educators of all levels and career stages will then benefit from the extensive research provided in the book; and through its pages they will gain a thorough understanding of how to go about the process of developing proficient writers in their classrooms.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781475838817
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	02/20/2018
Pages:	146
Product dimensions:	6.25(w) x 9.41(h) x 0.69(d)

About the Author

Dr. Nicholas D. Young has worked in diverse educational roles for more than 28 years, serving as a principal, special education director, graduate professor, graduate program director, graduate dean, and longtime superintendent of schools. He was named the Massachusetts Superintendent of the Year, completed a distinguished Fulbright program, and holds several graduate degrees including a PhD in educational administration and an EdD in educational psychology. He has published widely to include several books and book chapters on a variety of topics in education, counseling and psychology.

Since stepping away from the news desk in 2006 after eight years as a reporter at three daily newspapers and a weekly magazine, Bryan Thors Noonan began designing award-winning scholastic writing programs at a Turnaround High School at Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville, Fla. In August 2017, he became a Reading and English Language Arts Specialist for Duval County, where he began coaching educators teaching academic writing to more than 10,000 students across 22 high schools.

Professor Kristen Bonanno-Sotiropoulos has worked in education at the various levels for more than a dozen years. Her professional career within K12 public education included roles as a special education teacher and special education administrator at the elementary and middle school levels. After her tenure in K12, she transitioned to higher education to teach undergraduate and graduate courses as an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Springfield College located in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

Forward
Preface
Acknowledgements
Chapters

1. What are Evidenced-Based Practices and How Do They Apply to Educational Interventions for Struggling Students?
2. Effective Evidence-Based Writing Strategies that Work for Struggling Students and Those with Learning Disabilities

1. Professional Development as the Cornerstone for Fostering Teacher Writing Knowledge
2. Starting with a Firm Foundation: The Writing Pyramid
3. Self-Regulation: Skills and Knowledge that Are Essential for Student Success
4. Pre-Writing Activities: Why They Matter and Applied Suggestions to Guide Their Use
5. Underscoring the Importance of Writing Structure
6. Editing as a Necessary Step for Successful Writing
7. The Promise of Writer’s Workshop
8. Technology as a Catalyst for Improving Writing Instruction About the Authors

Editorial Reviews

Students with learning disabilities have great potential to thrive in an academic setting such as writing, however they often become frustrated and give up long before they find success. Taking a proactive stance in addressing the challenges faced by struggling writers and those with learning disabilities, the authors walk the reader through understanding the process, learning new strategies and skills that will alleviate the “what-ifs” of writing as well as discussing a plethora of professional development opportunities. Both student and educator will benefit from this books’ comprehensive look at a complicated subject.

Richard B. Holzman

Wrestling with Writing: Instructional Strategies for Struggling Students offers the reader a rich understanding of the writing process, the struggles and frustrations students experience as well as professional development opportunities for educators. Engaging the next generation to be confident writers is not an easy task, yet the authors offer up a toolbox full of strategies to hook hesitant scholars and authors-to-be. A must read for all who teach writing to students of any grade level, especially those who struggle, as well as anyone interested in learning more about the process of writing.

Elizabeth Jean Ed.D

Writing is an essential part of academics and life. Wrestling with Writing: Instructional Strategies for Struggling Students guides educators through the writing process while offering the reader a plethora of much needed strategies, such as sentence stems and thinking sheets, to engage students and increase skill development. The authors have included opportunities for discussion surrounding writing programs and methodologies as well as professional development options. In the end, educators are steered clearly towards student success.

Anne E. Mead Ed.D

This book has everything an educator needs to know about teaching writing to struggling students and those with learning disabilities as a means to increase student confidence and proficiency. District administrators and department chairs will find the book equally informative when looking to invest in professional development opportunities for staff or think about the technological needs of the 21st century student. This book offers something for everyone in the field of education who wants to improve as an educator or student.

Martha H. von Mering

Writing is an essential part of academics and life. Wrestling with Writing: Instructional Strategies for Struggling Students guides educators through the writing process while offering the reader a plethora of much needed strategies, such as sentence stems and thinking sheets, to engage students and increase skill development. The authors have included opportunities for discussion surrounding writing programs and methodologies as well as professional development options. In the end, educators are steered clearly towards student success.

Anne E. Mead

Wrestling with Writing: Instructional Strategies for Struggling Students offers the reader a rich understanding of the writing process, the struggles and frustrations students experience as well as professional development opportunities for educators. Engaging the next generation to be confident writers is not an easy task, yet the authors offer up a toolbox full of strategies to hook hesitant scholars and authors-to-be. A must read for all who teach writing to students of any grade level, especially those who struggle, as well as anyone interested in learning more about the process of writing.

Elizabeth Jean